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build majorities

As social research is not neutral, whenever an object is measured study also modifying it. This story is an example of how research questionnaires could be manipulated to achieve results that suit to their taste. The trick here is to introduce a bias by questions asked and the order in which they are made , but if someone had the intention to put numbers to their personal opinion to give more universal appearance, could simply invent rather than be bothered to "investigate"

B ernard ( B or Mr. Woolley ) tells Humphrey (H ) that the prime minister wants to reinstate the military service because he has a survey that says 64% of the population would support such action. Humphrey then advises Bernard to publish another survey showing that most of the population is against to reinstate the military. Bernard wonders how to accomplish that and Humphrey explains:

H: You know how it happens: a beautiful young woman about you. Obviously you want to take a good impression, do not want to seem silly, does it? Then she starts asking questions: "Mr. Woolley, are you concerned about the number of young people out of work?"
B: Yes
H: "Are you worried by rising crime among teenagers?"
B: Yes
H : "Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our schools?"
B: Yes
H : "Do you think young people need some authority and leadership in their lives?"
B: Yes
H "Do you think you meet the challenges?"
B: Yes
H : "Would you agree to reintroduce National Service?"
B : Emm, well, I guess it could be.
H: "Yes or no?"
B: Yes
H: Of course I would agree, Bernard. After all what you said you could not say no to that last question. Then do not mention the first 5 questions and publish only the last.
B: Is that really what they do?
H: Well, not prestigious, but those not so many. Alternatively, the young woman could get the opposite result.
B: How? H
: "Mr. Woolley, concerned about the danger of war?"
B: Yes
H : "We are concerned about the increase in arms?"
B: Yes
H : "Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teach them how to kill?"
B: Yes
H : "Do you oppose the reinstatement of the military?"
B: Yes
H: You see, Bernard. A perfect balanced sample.

Perhaps the inability to observe without changing is not a feature of social research. Famous examples such as the Schrödinger cat show that harsher discipline (those that sociologists sometimes enjoy relativizing ) also face this situation.

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The dialogue between these two politicians seeking majority circumstantial and comes from a fictional British television series Yes Minister called and the sample is taken and very loosely translated from here .

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